U.S. and Canada Tribes Seek to Stop Tobacco Smuggling

For most U.S. citizens, Canadian border security is an afterthought compared to security at the Mexican border.

Washington, DC – infoZine – Scripps Howard Foundation Wire – Members of the Mohawk American Indian tribe beg to differ.

Two chiefs of the Mohawk tribe from the St. Lawrence River Corridor and the U.S.-Canadian border areas met Tuesday with the U.S. Coast Guard at the Canada Institute to discuss increasing border security to prevent smuggling of tobacco to Canada.

“Normally, by the time the government finds out about this stuff it’s five years too late,” Chief Steve Thomas, representing the District of Kana:takon, said. “So all we are doing now is public relations.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized 598,000 cartons and unmarked bags of contraband cigarettes in 2011.